Anurag Kumar
Despite administration assurances that the law and order situation in Gurugram was under control, a mob in Sector 70 set fire to shops and food vendors in a new instance of communal violence. Earlier, the mob in Badshahpur ransacked stores belonging to a specific community and chanted “Jai Shri Ram” in front of a mosque.
“Some adolescents were attempting to cause a disturbance in the market by chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. We arrived on scene and managed the situation,” said Badshahpur police station SHO Satish Kumar.
The miscreants looted at least three shops in Badshahpur, while a group of men vandalised stores near Pataudi Chowk on Basai Road in Gurugram.
Ban on sale of loose petrol, diesel
The district magistrate of Gurugram, Nishant Yadav, has issued an order prohibiting the sale of petrol and diesel in bulk, effective immediately.
Yadav stated that communal tensions in the Haryana district of Nuh and Gurugram’s bordering areas presented a threat to law and order in the region. He stated that immediate preventative measures were necessary to preserve public order, peace, and harmony in the district.
“[In] exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), and in the interest of public safety and security, hereby order that all fuel stations operating in the Gurugram district are strictly prohibited from selling loose petrol/diesel to any person (except for emergency purposes) with immediate effect,” read the order.
Schools, colleges closed in Sohna tomorrow
In a separate order, the official stated that all educational institutions in the Sohna subdivision of Gurugram will remain closed on August 2 due to communal disturbance in the region. In other areas of Gurugram, educational institutions will function normally.
Five people have been slain so far in the violence that broke out on Monday following an attack on a VHP procession in the neighbouring district of Nuh.
Social media advisory
The administration urged the public not to post content on social media that “may offend the religious sensibilities of any individual or threaten religious harmony.”
“It is requested that you refrain from using any indecent language and refrain from sharing any videos, photos, or posts with the intent to hurt individuals based on their religion, caste, or any other personal characteristics,” Gurugram DM’s advisory stated.
“As per the applicable regulations, the dissemination of such objectionable content may result in legal action. On social media platforms, the dissemination of false rumours is strongly discouraged. If anyone promotes rumours or makes inappropriate remarks about a person’s religion or caste, the police will take stern action,” the statement continued.
ALSO READ : Nuh violence: Gurugram, Faridabad schools, colleges closed today.
VHP demands NIA probe
Tuesday, the Vishva Hindu Parishad compared the communal violence in Haryana to a “terrorist attack” and demanded that the National Investigation Agency investigate the incident. Surendra Jain, joint general secretary of the VHP, claimed at a press conference that the assaults against Hindu devotees during a religious procession on Monday were “pre-planned” and “incited” by certain Congress leaders of Haryana. In addition, he alleged that the state police lacked intelligence and that rioters used sophisticated weapons and other conventional weaponry to attack Hindu devotees during the procession.
